Shock absorber



July 24, 1928. l 1,677,949

c. E. BOND SHOCK ABSORBER .5 Filed Deo; s, 1924 IN1/EN TURA Patented July 24, 1928.' i y UNITED STAT-ES PATENT OFFICE... 'y I l CHARLES E. BOND, 'or SramanavIIQIni,V MARYIiAnD. Y

p y* snoei: assomme. n i Application filed December 3, 1924.' Serial No. 753,569.

This invention relates to shock absorbers Fig. l-,is aside elevation of'my improved or snubbing devices for use in motor vehidevice with certain parts broken away to cles in preventing sudden and excessive reexpose the Vinternal construction, the parts bound of the body following the sudden being in the positionthey occupy when the 5 compression of the springs'7 and in absorbvehicle springs are in normal position. 55 ing the forces incident thereto, and thereby Fig-2 isa similar view, with the parts" in preventing shocks. The invention has referthe.` positionfthey occupy when the vehicle ence to` that type of fsnubber characterized springs are strongly compressed as by roughby a spring-actuated'rotary drum mounted ness of the road.

i kon one of the relatively movable parts 'of Fig. 3 is a vertical/longitudinal sectionfon 60 the vehicle, for example the chassis, and Va the line 3-3 of-Fig. 1. Y y flexible member or strap connected to and Fig. Il is a similar section on the line adapt-ed to be Wound on the drum and an- I lvot Fig. 2. chored to another relatively-movable mem- Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the spring l5 ber of the vehicle, for instance, the axle, the actuated drum and its cooperating member 6a construction and arrangement of the parts or friction plate by Which the drum is being 'such that'on vthecornpression of the Shiftedfaxially to produce a braking action vehicle springs and the movement of' the thereon. chassis toward the axle, the drum Will be Fig. 6 is afragmentary view, in side eleva-V rotated ,by its spring and'will wind the strap tion, of thecooperating ends of the drum T0 thereon, and on the separation of the chassis andv plate Vshowing the `position ofthe parts from the axle, due to therebound orexpan at 'thecompletionof the winding movement sion Vof the Avehiclesprings, such separating ofthe drum, as theyappear inFigzQ.y

movement will be resisted by the drum-ac- Figyfis a similar view showing the posi-l ."5 tuating spring, and the *sudden rebound of tion of the parts when the drum begins its 75 the chassis willbe prevented. unwinding movement at the beginning o't rlhe invention is directed tofcertain imthe reactionvof thesprings. Y A' provements in snubbers of thistype, de- Referring to thedrawingsi signed to supplement the action of the druml designates a housing or casing compris- 9c actuating spring and oii'er the greatest reing a base plate 2 fixed to the chassis iframe Se sistance to the separating movement of the 3 by means'ot a fastening bolt Ll, and a cap chassis and axle at the beginning of the plate 5 covering theouter end ot' the casing expansive action of the `vehicle springsr and fastened in place yby the bolts G. A whereby the springs will be robbed oi their journal or stud'7 is fixed 'to the base 'plate action in causing excessive rebound of the and extends axiallyl rwithin thev casing and S5 chassis; and designedto enable the drum to has a bearing at itsouter end Vin the cap act with the greatest forceand effect on the plate, and an eccentric drum -8 is yrotatably stra-p in' winding the same up at the bemounted on the stud within thevcasing.. This ginning ot the compression of the vehicle l drum is of hollow formation and is pro- 40 sp1ings,"whereby the cushioning action of vided withY ya hubv 9 disposed eccentrically 90 thel springs will not'be interfered with at with relation tothe circular peripheral surthe moment of their compression, and where- :tace ofthe drum, which hub is formed with by the strap .will be quickly Wound on the a bearing opening receiving the stud, the drum.v parts being so formed' andrelated that while The detailed-form and construction of the the drum will be capable of rotation on the 95 parts to bring about these results will be stud, it may also shift thereonY axially of fully described in the specilication to tolthe stud, the purpose of which will presently low, and the novelV features thereof will be appear. A strap 10 has one end fixed to the set 'forth in the appendedpclaims. periphery of the'drum as yat 11, Figs. 1 and Y- n In the accompanying drawings: 2, and 'extends outwardly through an open me at 1 7, the tendency of the spring being to rotate the drum in the direction of the arrow in Fig. l and thereby wind the strap on the drum from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2, it being understood that the spring opposes its force tothe separation of the chassis frame from the axle when the vehicle springs react after their compression. n

The form and relation of the drum, .bearing surface 14 and the point of connection of the strap with the dum, are such that when the strap has been unwound from the drum as shown in Figl, the longest radius off the drum will be at the top, and the strap will be held free of the inner portion of the bearing surface 14 and the latter willtherefore offer the least resistance to the move.- ment of the strap thereover when the strap -iswound on the drum; and when the strap has been wound on the drum asvshowninV Fig. 2, the longestradius of the drum will be at the bottom, and the strap will engage throughout 4the full ,extent of the bearing surface and the latter will offer the greatest resistance to the ymovement of the strap l thereover inthe unwinding operation. vDue to this construction, relation and form of the parts, the greatest resistance tothe rotation of the drum will be offered at the moment when the vehicle springs begin to react after their compression, and the sudden rebound of the body of the vehicle will be prevented; kand the least resistance will be olfered to the rotation of the drum, and the latter will be permitted to act with its greatest leverage on the. strap,when the vehicle springs are being compressed and the chassis frame and axle approach each other.

ln order to create a further resistance to the unwinding of the strap from the drum when the vehicle springs react after being compressed, I provide meansadapted to bev brought into play at the beginning of the unwinding movement and. operating' to apply a braking action to the rotarymovement of the drum. In the present instance the braking action is brought about by shifting the drum axially on its stud and causing thev drum to frictionally bind at itsend against the adjacent face of the base plate 2 of the casing, and to accomplish this result the following instrumentalities are employed.

A friction disk orl plate 18 is mounted loosely on the stud adj acont-the cap plate 5 and is provided lon its outer face with an annular friction surface 19`adapted to cooperate with an annular friction surface 20 on the inner face `of the cap plate, which latter surface is gradually offset towards the upper portion of the plate in such manner that when the opposing friction surfaces are'in contact with eachother at their lower portions, a slight clearance will be left betweenV them at their upper portions as shown at 21,Figs. 3 and 4, the purpose of which will presentlyV appear. On its opposite face the friction plate isformed nearxits peripheral edge with ay cam lug 22 provided with agbeveled or wedge surface 23 which merges lat one end into the flat face of the plate and which. at its opposite end joins the face of the plate in an abrupt shoulder l24. Spaced from the shoulder 24 a short distance circumferentially of the plate, is a stop lug'25 lprojecting from the face of. the-same. The

adjacent end of the drum 8 is formed witha camv .lug 2,6 provided with a beveled or wedge surface 27 oppositelyl inclined to the surface 23 and adapted to `cooperate therewith, and is furtherprovided with a lug` 28, which lugois adapted, in the rotaryinovementv of the drum, to shift between andengage the shoulder 24 and lug V25'on the friction plate. At its opposite end the drum is formed with an annular radial friction braking surface 29 which is adapted, when the drum is shifted on its journal to the right, Figs. 3 and 4, to engagev with an annular friction braking( surface 30 formed on v the inner face of the base plate 2, andby such engagement set up a braking action to the rotationof the drum. Y Y

Due to the form and construction of the parts described, inthe rotary movement of the drum in one direction, the two beveled surfaces 23 and 27 by cooperating with each other will shift the drum on'its stud and cause the braking surface 29 on the drum to engage and bind on the braking surface 30V `on the base plate, thereby creating resistance to the rotation of the drum, while in the reverse rotation of the drum,- the surfaces 23 and 27 cooperating with each other will 'pei-- mit the drum to be shifted in the opposite direction on its journal and will thereby re,- lease the braking pressure of surface -29 on surface 30, so that the drum Will be permitted to freely rotate in a rever-se direction-' In order that those actionsof the. drum may be coordinated properly ,with the winding and unwinding action of thef'strap, to the end that the braking action on the Vdrum will be applied when the strap is drawn outwardly from the positionjshown in liig. 2, and the braking action will berelieved when the drum is operated to wind up the strap from the position shown in Fig. l, the parts are so disposed and'related to Veach 'in Fig. 7, which occurs when the 4vehicle springs react and draw the strap out, 'the surface 2'? will ride up on the surface 23 and will shift the druinvto the right, and' the latter reacting against the friction plate 18 which is causedv to bind against the cap' plate 5, the brake surface 29 on the` drum will be engaged with the braking surface 30 'on Ythe Vbr'isegplate. In the rotary n'iovrleinentofr the drum to produce these act-ions, the wlug-,2S on the drum is moved into engagement with the lug on the friction plate and the. latter lwill be' carried around' with the drum, with the brake surfaces 29 and 30 `maintained in engagement with each other, and thi-s relation of the parts willt continue 'as long as the separation of the axle from the chassis continues, and until the parts reach the position shown 'in Fig.V 1 representing the full expansion of the vehicle springs. 'lnthis action the movement ofthe drum is not only retardedby the action of the surface 14 on the strap, by the `decreased leverage on which the strap acts in turning tliedruin, and by the resista-nce of the ydrum actuating spring, but also by thev braking' action dueto the. cooperation of the braking surfaces 29 'and llilien now the'vehicle springs are compressed and the chassis approaches 'the axle, thedrum actuating `.spring acts teturn the drum in the direction of the arrow in Fig. G, by which action the lug`28 on the drinn will be carried towards the v'shoulder 24' on the friction plate, and Athe bevel surface 27 will ride down ,on the Vbeveledy surface 23,

thereby relieving the pressure of the braking surface 29 on the braking surface 30 and releasing the drum from the braking action and permitting free rota-tion thereof in winding up the strap, in wliichfrotation of the drum, the friction disk vwill be carried around with the drum, with itsbeveled surfaces separated from each' other as shown in Fig. 6. This winding actionv of the strap is aided'by the long leverage-j of the` drum on'the strap by Areason of thelonger radius at the upper portionl of the drum, and by reason of the decreasedV area ofthe surface 14 engaged by the strap as shown inFig.v 1. The drinn will'thereforeact towind up the strap with thel maximum of speed and with the minimum of resistance 'to' its rotation.

It will be not-'ed on reference to vFigs.1 2 and 11, that when the strap is wound on the drinn and the vehicle springs are under coinpression, the cooperating beveled surfaces-27 and' 23 on the drum and friction disk relsin'oothroads, since undei these conditionsA `there will be but a limited extent of engage spectively, are1 the lower portion of said partsk in axial alignment with the point distant from the clearance point 21betwe'e'n the annular friction'surfaces'20'and 22 on the friction disk and cap plate. SDue to this'fact,

"when the vdrum is rot-ated on the reaction-of the vehicle springs, vthe cooperation of the beveled surfaces 23* and 27 will `cause the surfaces 20 and 22 on the cap plate and frictionrdisk to bind at the lower portion of these parts, andl the'friction disk will vbe momentarilyheld against' rotation, until, in the continued rotation of the drum, the braking surfaces are brought into act-ion and Mthe lug 28 on the drum engages the lug25 on the disk, whereupon the disk will be car- 'ried around wit-li thedrum and the engagebefore described. Y

Asia result of tliefclearance 21 beforeV alment of the'vbraking surfaces maintained as yluded to ybetween the I friction disk and cap plate, very slightv resistance willbe offered to theireactive 'ii'iovements of the Vehicle springs in the 'travel over comparatively inent'of thedisk and capr plate; whereas in the tra-vel over comparativelyr rough roads,

causing the springs to be more strongly compressed and causing the brakingaction of the diskv will be caused to engage the cap plate vto al greater extent, which vwill offer the greatest resistance to the reactiveA movement of the springs. l y' Also due to the provision of the said clearance 21, the braking laction on the drum is gradually reduced'as it moves from the positionshown in Fig. 4 to that'shown i-n Fig.

3, thereby avoiding any'sudden jerksor `shocksinthe'movement of the drum inlreleasing the brake.

- n Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: j

' f1. In'- a snubber,the combination of anv eccentric drum adapted -to be rotatably mounted onfone memberof a vehicle, astrap connected'to. andarrang'edto be wound on `thedrum and adapted to be connected to another meinber of" the vehicle movablev tor and from the'iirst, as'pri'ng` acting on the drum to rotate the saine and wind the strap thereon, and affixed' friction surface over which the strap travels in its winding and unwindfrom the drum, the'strap4 will be disengaged Afrom' a portion of said friction Surface.

2.`In a snubber, the combination of an eccentric, drum adapted tobe rotatably mounted on onemembervof a vehicle, a strap connected to and arranged te be wound on 'the drum and adapted to ybe connected `to "drum t0 be vbrought into play, l.tl-ie' friction janot-her member of the ,vehicle movable to yand from the first, a spring acting on the face, and when the members of the vehicleV move toward each other and theA strap is wound on the drum, the strap will be engaged with said friction surface throughout its extent. v p

3. AIn .a snubber, the combination of an eccentric d rum adapted to be rotatably mounted on one member of a vehicle, a strap connected to and arranged to be wound on the drum and adapted to be connectedto anothermember of the vehicle movable to and from the first, ak spring acting lon the drum to rotate the same and wind the strap thereon, andy-a fixed friction surface over which the strap travels in its winding and unwinding movements, the form of said surface and its relation to the drum being such vthat the surface will offer the maximum resistance tothe travel of the strap when the drum is rotated to unwind the strap on the separation of they members of the vehicle, and will offer the'minimum resistance to the travel of the strap when the drum is rotated to wind the same on the movement of said members toward each other.

. 4. In a snubber, the combination of Ya drum adapted, to bev rotatably mounted on one member of a vehicle, a strap connected with the drum and arranged to be wound thereon and adapted to be connected to another member of the vehicle movable to and 'fromthe first, said drum being movable to a limited extent axially and provided with aA braking surface, a fixed braking surface in position to be engaged by the braking `surface on the drum when the Vlatter is moved axially, a spring acting on the drum to rotate it to wind up the strap when the members of the vehicle move toward eachv other, and means controlled ,by the rotary movement of the drum when the members of lthe vehicle move away from each other, and

operating to shift the drum axially and engage the braking surfaces with each other.

5. In a snubber, the combination of 'a drum adapted to be rotatably mountedon one member of a vehicle, a Vstrap. connected to said drum and arranged to be wound `move toward each other, means controlled by the rotation of the drum in the opposite drum for applyinga braking action to the rotation thereof. Y

6. InY a snubber, the combination of a drum adapted to be rotatably mounted ,on one member of a vehicle, avstrap connected to'and arranged tobe wo-und onthe drum and adapted to be conneetedto another member ofthe vehicle movableto and from the first, said drum being movable axiallyto a limited extent, a spring acting on the drum to rotatethe same and wind the strap thereon when themembers of the vehicle'inove towardY each other, meansrcontrolled by the rotation of the drum on the separation of said membersV and acting to shift the drum axially and maintain it in shifted position during'the reverse motion of the drum, and means brought into action bythe axial shifting of the drum foi-,applying a braking action thereto. Y Y

7. In a snubber, the combination of a casing adapted to be fixed to one member of a vehicle, a drum rotatably mounted in saidl casing, a strap connected to andarranged to be 'wound on the drum and adapted to be connected to another member ofthe vehicle engaged by the brakingsurface on the drumVv when the latter is movedaxially, said dru'nl being provided also with a beveled surface,

a spring acting on the drum to rotate the Iso.

same and wind the strap thereon when the f members of the vehicle move toward each other, a friction disk rotatable about the axis of the drum in position to engage the casing and providedwith a. bevel surface adapted tocooperate with that on the drum, the relation of saidY beveled surfaces on the drum and friction disk being such that on the reverse rotation of the drum'the said beveled surfaces will cooperate with each other and willbeA shifted axially and engage the braking surfaces ,with each other.

8. In a snubber, thecombination of a .casing adapted tojbe fixed to one member of a vehicle, aV drum rotatably mounted in Asaid casing, a strapconnected to and arranged to be wound on the drumand adapted to be connectedto another member of thevehicle movable to and from the first, saiddrum being movable axially to a limited extent, a

braking surface on the casing in position to be engaged by the braking surface on the drum when the latter is moved axially, a spring `acting on the, drum'to rotate the same and wind the strap thereon when the easing at one side of the axis of the drum, when the vehicle springs are in normal position.

In testimony whereof I have affixed InTJ signature hereto.

CHARLES E. BOND. 

